Shelf bracket



Dec. 4, 1956 J. G. L. SKAR SHELF BRACKET Filed May 25, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Jam 6. Z.. SAa/ ATTORNEXY Dec. 4, 1956 J. G. L. SKAR 2,772,846

SHELF BRACKET Filed May 25. 1951 2 Sheets-Shept 2 INVENTOR.

John G. L. 5/ 0r A TTOR/VE YJ' United States Patent SHELF BRACKET John G. L. Skar, Jamestown, N. Y., assignor to Art Metal Construction Company, Jamestown, N, Y.

' Application May 25, 1951, Serial No. 228,288

Claims. 0. us -243 'rights or columns and shelving members carried by the brackets so as to present continuous horizontal surfaces for edgewise or flatwise support of books or large yolumes ofbound newspapers, or the like.

'An object'of the invention is to provide an improved shelving arrangement as aforesaid wherein the cantilever bracket devices thereof are readily detachable and ,vertically adjustable relative to the upright support devices, and wherein the bracket devices are of simplified construction and yetof improved strength and rigidityagainst deflections under service loads. r Another object of the invention is to provide an improved shelving arrangement as aforesaid wherein the shelving members are of improved design and structural form whereby to cooperate in improved manner with bracket devicesof minimum root depth dimensions so as to provide an improved reinforced shelf device which is free from support interruptions throughout the entire upper surface thereofand which provides maximum useful clearance between vertically adjacent shelves.

p "Another object of the invention is to provide 'a shelving arrangement as aforesaid which incorporates improved shelf plate'aligning and interlocking means, whereby a smoothlycontinuous shelf arrangement of any desired length and surface uninterrupted form is obtained.

' Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the specification hereinafter. k i

In the drawing:

. Fig. l is a fragmentary top perspective view of a po'r- 1 tion of shelving mounted by means of abracket of the invention on a standard type post;

. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one portion of the bracket unit;

a Fig, 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of a shelving broken away to show a part of the support bracket thereof inelevation;

Fig.4 is a section taken along line IV--IV of Pig. 3; 2 Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a shelf front edge aligning and interlocking device of the invention; Fig. 6 i818. perspective view of a part of a bracket unit of theinvention, priorto assembly thereof with the other partof the unit as shown in Fig. 2; and i v t .Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section, on an enlarged scale, taken along'line-VII'VII of Fig. 4. Referring in detail to the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the reference numeral 10 designates a post or column, two or more of which are mounted vertically in lateral alignment bygany suitable means, as is conventional for support thereon of horizontal ranges of shelving. More specifi- 2' fully hereinafter.

2,772,846 Patented Dec. 4, 1956 cally, the drawing illustrates a typical form of column construction wherein the member is fabricated of sheet metal folded into box section form and punched at the frontal sides thereof as indicated at 12 (Figs. 1 and 7) for detachable reception therein of hook devices formed on the shelving bracket members, as will be explained more fully hereinafter. Thus, it will be appreciated that the column devices 10 will be suitably supported at the top and bottom ends thereof, as for example by direct connection to the ceiling and floor structures respectively of a library room or the like for support of the shelving to be mounted thereon. Also, it will be understood that the columns may be punched as indicated at 12 either at only one face thereof for use in a single faced shelf arrangement, or at the opposite sides thereof in the, event a double faced shelving range is to be constructed with the columns 10 extending centrally thereof. For purposes of simplification of the illustration, the drawing herewith illustrates the invention in conjunction with only a single faced shelving range arrangement.

The shelf bracket units of the invention each comprise two pieces, both of which are formed of sheet metal bent into a generally channel shaped section form Thus, one piece of each bracket device is designated 14 and is formed as illustrated in detail in Fig. 6 to comprise a front plate portion'15; a side plate portion 16; and at the opposite side thereof a row of hook shaped metal plate members 17; therhook end formations of which are directed downwardly for purposes to .be explained more The other portion of each bracket memberis designated generally 18, and is also formed of sheet metal to comprise a top plate portion 19; an outer'side flange portion 20; an inner side flange portion 21 and an upright end flange portion 22 which is formed integrally with the side flange portion 21. The bracket parts are so dimensioned that they interfit with the end flange portion 22 of the bracket member 18 disposed to lie alongside the side flange portion 16 of the bracket member 14, and the two parts are then welded together as indicated at 23, 24 (Figs. 4 and 7).

Thus, it will be appreciated that a T-shaped bracket device is provided by welding together two simple channel shaped members, one member of which extends vertically to substantially embrace the shelving column 10 while the tooth portions 17 thereof are hooked through the punched openings 12 of the column'member so as to firmly lock the bracket to the column. Thus, the bracket member may be readily mounted and dismounted relative to the column at any desired vertical position thereon with the front and side portions 15, 16 of the bracket embracing the corner of the post 10 and the front and one side portion thereof; and it is a particular feature and advantage of the invention that the hori- -zoi1tally extending bracket portion 18 is arranged to transmit the shelf loads through the bracket end flange 22 into the vertical bracket piece 14 and thence into the column 10. By virtue of the fact that both of the bracket pieces 14 and 18 are of channel section form and interfitted and welded together to form an integral T-shaped bracketunit, this device is of maximum strength and rigidity against deflection in all directions when mounted upon the column 10, while being at the sametime of minimum vertical thickness at the root portion ofthe bracket piece 18. This feature provides maximum clearance between vertically adjacent shelves and completely avoids interference with the top surface of the mounted shelving all-the way back to the supporting column members. 'Thus, it will be appreciated that this construction is of particular advantage in connection with shelving arrangements designed to hold large flatbooks or the like, .such as for example bound newspaper volumes to be stored flatwise upon the shelving.

The shelf plates of the invention are designated generally by the numeral 30 and are illustrated to each cornprise a sheet metal fabrication including a flat top plate portion 32; box formed front and rear edge portions as indicated at 33, 34, respectively (Fig. 4); and end flange portions at each end thereof comprising in each instance a downwardly bent and flange portion 35 and an inturned edge portion 36; thus giving torsional stiffness to the shelf plate atall edges thereof. The rear flange portion 34 of the shelf plate is cut away as indicated at 38 (Fig. 7) to accommodate sliding insertion there'th'rough of the bracket portion 18 into assembled relation under the shelf plate 30 as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 of the drawing. When in this position the shelf plate is locked to the brackets at each end of the shelf plate, as by means ofb'olts 40 or any other suitable means, and as shown in Fig. 4 for example it will appear that the flange portions 3S of the shelf members 39 thereby lie alongside and are locked to the flange portions 20 of the bracket devices in such manner as tb effectively reinforce the latter against bending under shelf loads. Similarly, the rigid shelf member reiarer'ceswhe bracket devices against deflection in all directions; and thus it Will be appreciated that the shelving arrangement of the invention provides an integrated and mutually reinforced shelf and bracket construction of cantilever type which provides maximum clearance yet is or great strength and rigidity while employing only a few and relatively simple fabricated parts. I

As illustrated in Figs. 3% the front edges of horizontallyadjacent shelf plates 30-30 are aligned and locked together at the position of each juncture therebetween by means of an aligner device designated generally at 44i Each aligner member 44 comprises an elongate body portion 45 formed with a laterally bent finger 46 at one end thereof and slightly taper pointed at the other end thereof as indicated at 47. A boss 43 is pressed out of the body portion 45. The end flange portions 35 of the shelf plates are cut away adjacent the front edges of the shelf plates as indicated at 49 (Fig. 1) to permit the aligner member 44 to be slip-fitted therethroughso as to extend into slip= fitting connections with adjacent corners of horizontally adjacent shelf plates and to span the juncture therebetween as indicated in Fig. 3; the boss portion 48 of the key thereupon acting to position the key in intermediate connecting position between the two shelf plates. Thus, it will be appreciated that subsequent to mounting of the shelf plates upon the cantilever brackets the outer edges of horizontally adjacent shelf plates may be readily guided and locked in smoothly aligned position by means of the slip-fitting aligner devices 44 when inserted th-erebehind to span the junctures between adjacent shelf plates. The finger piece 46 facilitates manual insertion and/or removal of the aligner 44; and the device is thereby disposed in a concealed position inside of the shelf front edge.

Whereas, only one specific embodiment of the invention has been shown-and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so linrited but that various changes may be made therein with"- out departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope ofthe appended claims.

1. In adjustable shelving in combination, a rectangular sectioned support member having front and side wall portions and perforations in vertically spaced relation through said front wall portion, a shelf bracket unit com= prising first and second members, said first member com prising a -generally channel sectioned bent metal piece having a front wall and two parallel side wall portions, one of said-first member side wall portions being'cut away to constitute a series of vertically aligned hook tie-- vices adapted to hook-fit into the perforations of said sup port member while the front and opposite side portions of said first bracket member embrace the front and opposite side wall portions respectively of said support member, said second bracket member comprising a channel section bent metal piece having a top wall portion and two depending side 'wall portions, one of said second member side wall portions being formed with a branch section extending at one end there-beyond both horizontally and vertically, said bracket members being nested together whereby said second bracket member extends forwardly horizontally from the front wall of said first bracket member while said bracket branch section lies alongside said opposite side wall portion of said first bracket memher; said bracket members being welded together at posi tions of contiguity thereby providing an integral rigid generally T-shaped bracket unit, a portion of which provides a horizontal cantilever shelving member rest device when said bracket is hooked onto said support member.

2. In adjustable shelving, in combination, an angular sectioned support member having front and side wall portions and perforations in vertically spaced relation through said front wall portion, a shelf bracket unit comprising first and second members, said first member comprising a generally channel sectioned bent metal piece having a front wall portion anda side wall portion, a series of verticallyialigned hook devices extending from said first member front wall portion in spaced parallel relation to said side 'wall portion thereof and adapted to hook-fit into the'perforations of said support member while the front and side wall portions of said first bracket member embrace the front and side wall portions respectively of said support member, said second bracket member comprising a channel section bent metal piece butted against the front wall portion of said first bracket member and having a top Wall portion and a side wall portion formed with a branch section extending at one end thereof both horizontally and vertically alongside said side wall portion of the first bracket member; said bracket members vbeingwelded together at positions of contiguity thereby providing an integral generally T shaped bracket unit a portion of which provides a horizontal cantilever shelf rest device when said bracket is hooked onto said support.

3. In adjustable shelving, in combination, an angular sectioned support member having front and side wall portions and apertures in vertically spaced relation through said front wall portion, a shelf bracket of generally T-shaped form comprising an upright first member 'of generally channel sectioned bent metal form having a front wall and a side wall and a series of vertically aligned hook devices extending vertically from said front wall and adapted to hook-fit into the apertures of said support member while the front and side wall of said first bracket member embrace the front and side wall portions respectively of said support member, said bracket comprising also a second member of channel section bent metal form disposed horizontally and having a top wall portion thereof abutting said first member front wall and having a side wall portion formed with a branch section extending to lie alongside said sidewall of said first bracket member; said bracket members being welded together at positions of c'ontig'uity thereby providing an integral generally T-shaped bra'cket unit.

4. In adjustable shelving, in combination, an angular sectioned support member having front and sidewall portions and perforations in vertically spaced relation through said front wall portion, a shelf bracket unit comprising first and second members, said firs't member comprising an angularlyse'ctioned bent metal piece having a front wall portion and a side wall portion and a hook device extending from said front wall portion adapted to hookfit into the perforations of said support member while the front and side wall portions of said first bracket member embrace'the front and "side wall portions respectively of said support member, said second bracket member comprising an angular'ly sectioned bent metal pi'ece butted against the iron: wall'porti'on of said first bracket member and having a top wall portion and a side wall portion formed with a branch section extendin at one end there of alongside said side wall portion of said first bracket member; said bracket members being rigidly united at positions of contiguity thereby providing an integral generally T-shaped bracket unit a portion of which provides a horizontal cantilever shelf rest device when said bracket unit is hooked onto said support member.

5. An adjustable shelf bracket of generally T-shaped form comprising an upright first member of angular sectioned bent metal form having a front wall and a side wall and a hook device extending from said front wall and adapted to hook-fit upon a cornered support while the front and side walls of said first bracket member em:

brace the front and side wall portions respectively of said support, said bracket comprising also a second member of channel section bent metal form disposed horizontally and having a top wall portion thereof abutting said first memher front wall and having a side wall portion formed with a branch section extending to lie alongside said side wall of said first bracket member; said bracket members being rigidly united at positions of contiguity.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 392,061 Peckham Oct. 30, 1888 571,249 Stikeman Nov. 10, 1896 775,496 Parsons Nov. 22, 1904 1,011,161 Comstock Dec. 12, 1911 1,204,174 Magee Nov. 7, 1916 1,357,191 Simmen Oct. 26, 1920 1,560,122 Vance Nov. 3, 1925 1,685,336 Platt et a1 Sept. 25, 1928 1,687,671 June Oct. 16, 1928 1,702,937 Friedemann Feb. 19, 1929 1,830,438 Miller Nov. 3, 1931 2,346,150 Brown Apr. 11, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS 564,904 Great Britain Oct. 18, 1944 262,758 Switzerland Oct. 17, 1949 

